The hook and snap buckle have become de-facto icons for Matthew Williams' 1017 ALYX 9SM’s industrial aesthetic, and they certainly appear in his latest collaboration with Moncler Genius. The heart of the 6 MONCLER 1017 ALYX 9SM collection is a merging of two distinct worlds that share a common DNA: the sweeping mountains of Moncler, and the vast industrial metropolis of ALYX. ALYX describes itself as "aggressively elegant," which can certainly be applied to the Moncler collaboration. Just think about skiing—extreme weather matched with elegance of form. What both have in common: inspiration from landscapes with sweeping expansiveness.
In 2012, Matthew Williams first made waves with the streetwear line BEEN TRILL, founded along with designers such as Virgil Abloh and Heron Preston, who met each other working for Kanye West. Williams, who had been the art director for West’s label Donda, had also worked as Creative Director for Lady Gaga. Williams’ work for celebrities might have suggested an affinity for flashy, hyped-up tastes optimized for social media. Yet when he launched his label 1017 ALYX 9SM (then styled “Alyx”) in 2015, his design proved to be understated and elegant with nods to subcultures, equally harsh as it was sophisticated.
This is the genius of Moncler: puffer jackets aren't supposed to look cool, they're supposed to keep you warm, yet for over half a century, Moncler has done both and spawned endless imitators. In the past, ALYX has had several collaborations, including Nike, Vans, and Mackintosh; and for Dior's SS19 collection, ALYX designed accessories. Yet when Williams collaborated with Moncler, it was a chance to expand the ALYX repertoire to include working with a historic brand with technical craftsmanship that's easily the best in the world.
The resulting collection shows the classic puffers, padded parkas, sleeveless vests, and a sleek leather waistcoat with lapels, because, after all, this is ALYX. Looking through the collection, one could almost picture ravers trekking through snow to find the secret location of a far-out warehouse party. This speaks to the collection's versatility, that it can protect you from mountain weather, but can also be worn in the city.
Typical for Williams, the palate is restrained: grayscale with accents of tans and reds. Yet there is a rich diversity of texture and technical-wear, which is what lends the collection as a whole its fullness and dynamism. For our photoshoot at Highsnobiety, we chose to shoot models dressed in Williams' modern outerwear as if they were party-goers scaling unknown peaks to find that elusive rave. The collection even comes with accessories, including chain belts with hooks, hooded backpacks, sunglasses, and neoprene boots.
6 MONCLER 1017 ALYX 9SM is available online now at Moncler.com, and in Moncler boutiques and selective wholesale networks worldwide.
